Premiership team of the season (after week 13)
Team of the season? But it’s still November, dammit!
Peter Liaros is one of our new writers at Soccerlens (you must have caught his coverage for the first half of champions league fixtures from matchday 5), and he’s put up the team of the season (so far) after 13 weeks into the Premiership.
Fans of Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton, Aston Villa and Portsmouth will be pleased, the rest of the Premiership, not so.
See if he got anything right 
and let him know in the comments.
| The SoccerLens Team of the Season after Gameweek 13
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Team of the Season Commentary
Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United) United’s attack has taken the bulk of the plaudits in their march to the top of the table, but veteran Holland keeper Van der Sar has been in superb form and has conceded just five goals in 12 games.
Patrice Evra (Manchester United) France full-back now appears to have settled into life in the Barclays Premiership and is keeping fit-again Gabriel Heinze out of the United starting XI with his energetic defending and frequent raids down the left flank.
Liam Ridgewell (Aston Villa) Often overlooked despite his key role for Martin O’Neill’s side, Ridgewell has been one of the most consistent performers in the Barclays Premiership and has been a crucial part of Villa’s solid start to the season.
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) Classy defender has managed to play every minute in the Barclays Premiership and been instrumental as United have only conceded six times this term. Also scored a fabulous goal to seal victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) Versatile Villa skipper blasted home his fourth goal of the season from the penalty spot in the recent victory over Blackburn Rovers, and his fine performances along the way see him well placed in the top 10 of the Actim Index.
Tim Cahill (Everton) Australia international’s goal against Arsenal in the 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium was his fifth of the season, but the club will miss his creative drive over the next few weeks as he recovers from surgery on a knee injury suffered in the defeat by Aston Villa.
Frank Lampard (Chelsea) The ever-present Lampard has scored five Barclays Premiership goals this season and remains an integral part of Jose Mourinho’s midfield plans as the Stamford Bridge club chase a third successive title.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) The Portugese weapon is Manchesters United’s best attacking threat. He has scored 4 goals in 13 games and he has set up about three-quarters of Manchester United’s attacking chances. Our player of the season.
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) Veteran Wales midfielder has become more versatile with age and now gives Sir Alex Ferguson an additional option in the centre along with his more recognised talents on the wing.
Didier Drogba (Chelsea) The Ivory Coast international has grabbed the spotlight with his blistering start to the season and continues to lead the way in the Actim Index while sharing top spot in the Barclays Premiership scoring charts.
Kanu (Portsmouth) Veteran Nigerian forward has found a new lease of life after moving to Fratton Park on a free transfer in the summer and his goal against Watford took him level with Drogba in the race for the Golden Boot.
Right? Wrong? Or maybe you’ve got your own team of the season? Let us know in the comments.
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no Essien???
I’d go with Essien over Lamps, surely.
Also, Vidic over Ferdinand.
Essien is an absolute must !
Essien and Drogba by far the best 2 players for Chelsea this season.
Evra at rightback? He’s not even a rightback! Cristiano Ronaldo in the center? Tim Cahill on the wings? What madness!
GK - Shay Given. Consistent and Reliable performer behind a joke of a defence.
RB - Khalid Boulharouz. Settling very well in a league much faster than most imports do.
CB - Nemanja Vidic. Solid, reliable performances. Has come back well after a long-term injury.
CB - Kolo Toure. Arsenal have one of the best defensive records in the league right now and Toure has everything to do with that.
LB - William Gallas. I’m putting him here not because he’s set the world on fire while playing leftback, but because no other fullback has really set himself apart so far. Gallas has been solid and has provided an attacking threat as well, contributing two goals in the process.
RW - Aliaksander Hleb. Consistently a thorn in the opposition’s side, he’s been a menace down the right flank throughout this season. Hasn’t scored enough for my liking but his game is built around pulling defenders towards him and then creating space for others, something he does better than anyone in the league.
CM - Michael Essien. Some stunning performances and a much calmer attitude to the game have put Essien forth as the best midfielder in the league so far. Power, ability, goals: he’s had it all these first few months.
CM - Tim Cahill. Has scored a ridiculous amount of goals from midfield. Excellent movement off the ball, provides a physical presence up front that complements Andy Johnson’s style perfectly.
LW - Ryan Giggs. Continues to defy his age. Spent nearly all of last season in the center, but now he’s back to his favoured left flank and has been the creative driving force that has propelled United to the top of the table. I would always pick him over Ronaldo because Giggs is more consistent and more mature than the Portuguese winger, and when absent, United miss him a lot more than they ever miss Ronaldo.
ST - Kanu (Agreed). Reviving his career by banging in the goals week in week out, had a terrible time at West Brom but now flourishing at a club that is aiming high.
ST - Didier Drogba (Agreed) No one has answered his critics, and risen to the challenge of having a worldclass striker coming in (Shevchenko) the way Drogba has. Has scored some amazing goals along the way, has shown remarkable consistency and made himself the first name on the team sheet.
Where is Sol Campbell, David James and Glen Johnstone.
Rocky,
I’d differ on a few of those selections.
GK - van der sar over given - he’s good, but he was also out for two months, so till now he’s had less of an impact than EVDS.
RB - tough one. Boulahrouz is good, definitely. Dunno any good right backs here, so can’t say much. Neville’s done well, but I wouldn’t pick either him or Boulahrouz.
CB - Vidic
CB - Gallas - Toure’s good, but Gallas is better.
LB - Evra
RW - Ronaldo - has done better than Hleb this season.
CM - Essien - no questions about it.
CM - Cahill - fine choice, though not too sure about it. It’s been a case of top midfielders underperforming. I’d say that either Cahill or someone from Arsenal midfield (Hleb, Fab, Ros) should go here.
LW - Giggs
ST - Drogba
ST - Kanu - again, no clear-cut winner here, again a case of the big strikers not firing on all cylinders.
Cristiano Ronaldo ???
Patrice Evra ???
What a joke !!!!
Ferdinand over Vidic? You’re having a laugh. They’ve both been good this season, but anyone who’s seen United play regularly will have realized that the Serb has been United’s main man in defense.
And where’s Scholesy? Surely he’s had a better season than Lampard, no? There’s a case for Essien in there, surely, and Cahill’s been underperforming compared to his excellent form last season.
Magnus from COS? hehehe…
Why evra although he does well going forward he does have his fair share of mistakes while defending.And Vidic is an absolute must.
Ahmed - I simply don’t know how you can argue against Barry’s inclusion (though not at left back! I think Peter has just picked the best 11 players without thinking too much about position, as whilst Barry can play in defence he has been mainly employed in midfield thus far). Anyway, Barry has been in the top 10 in the actim index all season, has scored some spectacular goals and generally leads by example. One of the most underrated players in the premiership. No idea why Macca won’t give him a chance!
Linvoy Primus and Sol Campbell?
David James is having a wonderful season and deserves to be there, he’s recaptured his England form of old (the good bits anyway!!)
Kanu deserves it as well, not bad for a has been eh!
Pedro Mendes for sure, he’s pushing it with James, Kanu, Glen Johnson and Primus for player of Pompey’s season so far.
How on Earth could you include Patrice Evra?
Khalid Boulharouz?
hahahahahahahaha
that is all.
Hey Im a gr8 fan of Man Utd but I strongly criticize why chosing ‘em as GK in TOM he’s a worst goalkeeper.The reason y he’s conceded 5 goals ,its bcoz of Strong Fallback that MU He’s no good.. Tell me once in this is season where u can say he’s made a briliant save..
where’s essien and vidic? and as much as i love the red devils, what in devil’s name is evra doing at right back? and why is tim cahill doing on the right side of midfield while ronaldo is in the center? and peter, one last thing…do name a sub’s bench too…makes things more interesting! nice try
After seeing the bollocking Robbie Keane gave Boulahrouz to make a goal for Lennon, I wouldnt wanna see him on the subs bench….
Eboue has been massive for Arsenal… back and forward
Here iti s…
VDS
Eboue Vidic Gallas Evra
Ronaldo Essien Cahill Giggs
Drogba Kanu
Bench: David James, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell, Young, Fabregas, Andy Johnson
Ferdinand and Lampard have been average at best. Granted the stats you supply are pretty hard to argue against (and Rio’s goal against Liverpool was plain awesome) - but neither proves they’re outstanding in their position, just that they play in outstanding teams.
Van Der Sar and Evra are debatable, both have been playing great, but I think others have as good a case as them (one might even say Evra is only thought of so highly because everyone thought he was going to be hopeless). I guess here it’s just a matter of opinion.
Lastly I’d be hesistant not to give the nod to Gaz Neville, particularly considering how well he plays with Ronaldo.
I disagree with a couple of choice firsty I have no clue how u can put evra at RB its not even his position i’d put gary neville although his age is a downside he keeps defying it and keeps on supplying forward runs for united , then ronaldo should be on the right wing not in central midefield !! and defintely have essien as CM along with fabregas who is playing really well for arsenal . And what team wouldnt have rooney in , even though his form is hot and cold this season I think he is a necessity for any team !
UPDATED TEAM OF THE SEASON:
GK: David James (PORTSMOUTH)
RB: Khalid Boulahrouz (CHELSEA)
CB: Nemanja Vidic (MANCHESTER UNITED)
CB: William Gallas (CHELSEA)
LB: Patrice Evra (MANCHESTER UNITED)
RM: Cristiano Ronaldo (MANCHESTER UNITED)
CM: Michael Essien (CHELSEA)
CM: Paul Scholes (MANCHESTER UNITED)
LM: Ryan Giggs (MANCHESTER UNITED)
CS: Didier Drogba (CHELSEA)
CS: Nwankwo Kanu (PORTSMOUTH)
SUBSTITUTES
GK: Edwin Van Der Saar (MANCHESTER UNITED)
CB: Rio Ferdinand (MANCHESTER UNITED)
CM: Tim Cahill (EVERTON)
LM: Gareth Barry (ASTON VILLA)
CS: Wayne Rooney (MANCHESTER UNITED)
Let me know what you think.
GK: David James
LB: Patrice Evra
RB: Emmanouel Eboue
CB: Kolo Toure
CB: John Terry
CM: Michael Essien
CM: Tim Cahill
LM: Ryan Giggs
RM: Cristiano Ronaldo
CS: Didier Drogba
CS: Nwanko Kanu
SUBSITUTES
GK: Jussi Jaskelainen
CB: Sol Campbell
CB: Rio Ferdinand
CM: Frank Lampard
CM: Cesk Fabregas
LM: Gareth Barry
RM: Aaron Lennon
CS: Louis Saha
CS: Thiery Henry
CS: Benny McCarthy
I forgot at substitutes Micah Richards. He’ s doing excellent season
gk:van der sar
rb:g.neville
lb:barry
cb:vidic
cb:ferdinand
rm:c.ronaldo
lm:ashley young
cm:scholes
cm:gerrard
st:tevez
st:kuyt
subs:
foster
carvalho
alonso
lampard
rosicky
where is S.Gerrard and Carvalleo and Jaaskalinen is better than Van Der Sar